Image Forming Device and Control Method Therefor

1. An image forming device comprising: a control unit configured to sort common setting information valid among a plurality of image forming devices and specific setting information valid for a specific image forming device; an internal storage device configured to store setting data that includes a pair of IDs indicating a type of setting item and a setting value; an external storage device controller configured to input and output the setting data with a detachable external storage device; and a selective-write device configured to select and write the setting data read from the external storage device based on predetermined criteria.

2. The image forming device as described in claim 1 , wherein the selective-write device further comprises an overwrite device to select a setting value that is valid and consistent from the setting data read from the external storage device, and to overwrite the selected setting value onto an initial value or current setting value stored in a setting storage device.

3. The image forming device as described in claim 1 , wherein the setting data includes a renewal flag and the image forming device further comprises: a renewal unit configured to write the setting data read from the external storage device to the internal storage device in accordance with transmit-permission information or receive-permission information of the renewal flag; an overwrite setting unit configured to determine criteria to permit overwriting under predetermined permission information of the renewal flag.

4. The image forming device as described in claim 3 , wherein the image forming device further comprises: a writing unit configured to write the setting data of the external storage device to a setting storage device; a mode setting unit configured to selectively set the image forming device to one of a normal operation mode to operate in accordance with the setting data of the setting storage device, a renewal mode to renew the setting data of the setting storage device, and an external reference mode to operate after writing the setting data of the external storage device.

5. A control method of controlling an image forming device, comprising the steps of: sorting common setting information valid among a plurality of image forming devices and specific setting information valid for a specific image forming device; storing setting data that includes a pair of IDs indicating a type of setting item and a setting value; selecting a setting value that is valid and consistent from the setting data read from an external storage device; and overwriting the setting value onto an initial value or current setting value stored in a setting storage device.

6. The control method as described in claim 5 , further comprising the steps of: outputting the setting data to a detachable external storage device; and reading the setting data from the detachable external storage device.

7. A control method of controlling an image forming device, comprising the steps of: sorting common setting information valid among a plurality of image forming devices and specific setting information valid for a specific image forming device; storing setting data that includes setting data of identification information indicating a type of setting item, setting values, and a renewal flag; setting criteria to permit overwriting at predetermined permission information of the renewal flag; and writing the setting value in an internal storage device in accordance with transmit-permission information or receive-permission information of the renewal flag.

8. The control method as described in claim 7 , further comprising the steps of: outputting the setting data to a detachable external storage device; and after setting criteria to permit overwriting at predetermined permission information of the renewal flag, reading the setting data from the external storage device.